Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-03-10
JACOB AT BETHEL.
DR.. cURTISS' NOTES ON THE SUM-
DAY SCHOOL LESSON.

Sunday, March 13-Text of the Lesson,
Gen. xviii, 1O-22-GOlden Text, Gen.
xviii, 16.
Isaac-In due time Isaac was married, and
had two sons. The story of his life shows
what blessings came to him from Gods cove
nant with his father, Abraham. The angel
OF Jehovah went before him. and caused his
way to prosper. His marriage with Rebekah,
however, introduced into the family those
distinctive traits of sharpness and commercial
thrift which characterize the Jews to-day.
Jacob and Esau-Isaac's sons were twins.
The first, Esau, impulsive. generous and fond
Of the chase, was his fathers favorite. The
second, crafty, polite end keeper at home,
was beloved of his mother.
In those times, as is the case now In some
countries, the first born son enjoyed special
privileges. This was pre-eminently the ease
not only because the eldest son became chief
of his clan, but also because the blessings OF
the covenant were especially his
Esau one day, when very hungry, becoming
slave of his appetite, sold his birthright to
his brother for a mess Of pottage. While we
must characterize this act Of Jacob, in taking
advantage Of Esau's hunger to buy his birth
right, as the height of meanness and most
unbrotherly, we must say that man who
would sell his birthright for an appetizng
dish, even when hungry, was not fit to have
it compare Gen. XIV, "a; Heb. xii, 16) and
to be an heir of the noble promises made to
Abraham.
So, too, Rebekah's device for Jacob to Sc =
cure the blessing which belonged 10 Esau as
the elder sontg contemplate (Gen. xvii,
s-17. While Jacob objected, it was simply
because he feared that his father would dis
cover the deception. Nevertheless, Jacob was
far superior to Esau in his natural traits, for
he possessed force of character and a worthy
ambition, while his brother was Of that good
hearted careless temperament which not only
makes young man an easy prey to his pas
sions, but also to temptations from without.
The subsequent history shows that God did
not approve at all of these acts Of Jacob in
getting the advantage of Esau, and punished
him severely for his deception by twice
making him the victim of deception in his
own family.
But Jacob was the child Of the covenant.
The rich blessings which God had promised
to Abraham was to be his. Even Isaac recog-
nized this fact, and gave him his benediction
before he left. The wonderful history Of
Gods special guidance of his chosen people
and of their progenitors is illustrated in the
lesson which follows, and we shall see how
God causes all things to work together for
good to those that love him Rom. viii, 29.
THE LESSON.
Jacobs Flight ". 10)-To avoid the muir
derous revenge of Esau. Jacob was compelled
to leave his home, Beer-sheba- He started,
therefore, for Haran in MesopotaIhia, where
Abraham had once lived when on his way
from Ur to the promised land, that be might
have an asylum from his brother, and that he
might find a wife who would be in religious
sympathy with him. 1t was trying thing
for him, as it is for every young man, thus to
leave home.
The Ladder Tvs. 11-15-But his fathers
God was with him, although he seems to have
been unconscious Of his near presence.
He lay down to sleep at q certain place,
and as he slept he dreamed. He saw q lad
der extending from heaven to earth, and the
angels Of God ascending and descending upon
it. While he gazed with wonder, Jehovah
himself stood beside him tRevised Version,
margin; compare Cen xviii, p, and, tell
ing him that he was the God of Abraham,
his father, and of Isaac, he repeated the
promise already made to Abraham-that his
descendants should occupy the land, that
they should have a wonderful increase, and
that in him as the head Of the family, and in
his seed, which was finally to eliminate in
the Messiah, all the nations of the earth were
to be blessed. He also added the precious
assurance that he was with him, would keep
him whithersoever he might go, and would
bring him back again to the promised land.
Why Was Jacob Afraidl Tvs. 16, 10-The
sleep from which Jacob awoke was a natural
sleep, but the dream was sent by God him.
self to comfort his servant. His first sensa-
ton when he realized that God was in the
place was that of fear. This could only come
from sense of his sinfulness- In this respect
his experience was like that of Isaiah Qsa
vi, 81 and Peter luke v, s.. Like Abra-
ham, he had not yet clearly grasped the
truth that God was everywhere; SO that when
he realizes that God is attending him, he feels
his unworthineSs. To his very incomplete
religious experience the place where God had
been seemed dreadful The thought that he
had been in Gods house and at the very gate
of heaven inspired him with awe.
Bethel Tvs IS, 19)-The stone which he had
put under his head on going to rest he raises
up as a pillar in commemoration Of the
event, and pours the oil of conservation on
it. After such an experience he gives the
place new name-Bethel or house of God
It was quite in accord with the Oriental way
of giving names that he should embody one
of the most solemn experiences Of his life in
name, and it was natural that one who was
to be possessor of the land should begin to
give the places distinctive designation.
Jacobs Vow Tvs 20-29-Even Jacobs vow
e characteristic. He sees the advantage Of
having Gods protection and help, and prom
ises that, if God will bless him, be will give
him tenth of all that he has. The Scripture
does not commend Jacob as an example In
this unspiritual view of his relation to God.
Really he seeks to make a bargain with God
as he would with a powerful man. He evil
IDENTIFY had not learned that al that be pos
sessed belonged to God
From this passage as well as from the ac-
count of the tithe which Abraham gave to
Melchizedek (Gen. xiv, 20l, it is evident that
two of the patriarchs, at least, on one or
more occasions gave tenth of what they had
to God. Their descendants Deut xiv, %, etc-)
afterward followed the same custom. 1t is
often argued from these examples that we
should give a tenth of our income to God.
The New Testament, however, sets higher
standard We are MT to make a gain ct
godliness q Tim. vi, 5, Revised Version), and
to give because we thereby expect to insure
prosperity prov. II, 25). The New Testa-
ment teaches that all we possess belongs to
God, and that we are simply stewards Matt.
XIV, 1420; that property and talents are
given us simply to be administered for him.
Hence it is doubtless the duty Of many to
give far more than tenth.
POINTS TO BE REMEMBERED.
l. 1t is great blessing to be child Of the
convent
2 Men lose everything that is desirable in
this world and in that which is to come by
yielding to their appetites
8 The fact that the sins Of good mon are
recorded in the Bible does not show that God
is Indifferent to them. Jacob had to pay
dearly for his deception.
l. God causes all things to work together
for those who love him
s. God is with his children everywhere to
keep and help them
Q. All that we have belongs to God. Ths
least that we can give him is tenth Of what
he has already given us.-Sunday School
World.
Mast and Congressman Phelps.
Thomas Mast who lives here, has submit
ted to an interview respecting the character
Of